Sehba seeks case transfer

RAWALPINDI, Dec 10: The spouse of former president Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf expressed lack of confidence on an anti-terrorism court (ATC) and sought transfer to another court her petition seeking quashment of the orders declaring her husband a proclaimed offender and to confiscate his moveable and immoveable property in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.

When ATC judge Shahid Rafique resumed hearing of the petition on Saturday, Nayyab Hassan Gardezi, the counsel for Sehba Musharraf, maintained that he had filed a petition with Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench for transferring the case to another court on instructions of his client.

Mr Gardezi told Dawn that they were not hopeful of getting justice from this court. “I have read several news items in which the court has disclosed its thoughts and we are afraid that the case would go to some results which may not suit us,” he remarked. Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, the FIA senior public prosecutor, however, opposed the petition’s transfer.

Talking to this reporter, he observed that Ms Musharraf was trying to delay the matter and the plea to transfer her application was part of this strategy.

Meanwhile, the court recorded the statement of four prosecution witnesses in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case and summoned 10 prosecution witnesses for December 17.— A Reporter

TV artist indicted

RAWALPINDI, Dec 10: A local court has indicted renowned TV artist Atiqa Odho in liquor recovery case.

When civil judge resumed hearing in the case on Saturday, Odho’s lawyer Arshad Mirza submitted an application seeking exemption for Ms Odho from appearing in the court.

The judge rejected the application and framed charges against her and summoned the prosecution witnesses on next date of hearing on December 24.

Odho was detained by Airport Security Forces (ASF) and officials of Pakistan Customs on June 5 at Benazir Bhutto airport for keeping two liquor bottles in her bag.— A Reporter

Railways to pay Iesco

RAWALPINDI, Dec 10: Pakistan Railways will pay Rs79 million to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) next week for getting the suspended electric supply restored to 29 small railway stations in Rawalpindi division.

Talking to Dawn, Railway Divisional Superintendent Syed Munawar Shah said Iesco had not been providing electricity to 29 small railway stations including Jhelum, Chaklala, Margalla, Fatehjang, Sihala, Noor, Kaliam etc and Railway colonies along these stations for last 15 days.

He said Iesco also suspended electricity supply to Railway colonies along Loco Shed near Dhoke Ratta, Bakery Chowk and washing lines but restored it next day after getting assurance from railway authorities.

He said the federal government had released Rs6 billion bailout package to Pakistan Railways and after getting the said amount, the railways would submit its outstanding bills to Wapda including Rs79 million of Iesco.

“We requested Iesco to restore electricity as it was creating problems to the smooth functioning of railway’s working. Pakistan Railways was using generators and batteries to run the signal system in the division,” he said.— A Reporter

New fire engine

FATEHJANG, Dec 10: New fire engine was handed over to the TMA fire brigade department in a ceremony here on Saturday.

Presiding over the ceremony, MPA Chaudhry Sher Ali said provision of fire brigade vehicle and staff was essential for the city as people had to suffer financial losses on three occasions when fire erupted in the city and fire engine was not available. He said Rs78 million was provided to TMA for water supply scheme and Rs50 million for the purchase of fire vehicle. —Correspondent

Physical rehabilitation centre

CHAKWAL, Dec 10: First-ever physical rehabilitation centre in Punjab was inaugurated here on Saturday.

The centre was launched by Qazi Foundation, a local welfare organisation with the help of Helping Hand, a US-based NGO.

Former chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills Lt-Gen (retired) Abdul Qayum and Commissioner Islamabad Tariq Mehmood Pirzada inaugurated the centre. The centre would provide the facilities of orthotics, prosthetics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other treatments related to the bone and limb diseases.

Speaking on the occasion Lt-Gen (retired) Abdul Qayum said: “We should encourage people who want to serve humanity without any interest. A considerable number of Pakistani people are doing philanthropic jobs but those who are sitting at the helm of affairs are not even bothered to perform their duties.” Tariq Mehmood Pirzada said: “We need to organise philanthropists of the country on one platform so that the problems of the people may be solved on permanent basis.— Correspondent

Lab assessor course concludes

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) has adopted international standard and guidelines to assess medical labs through qualified and trained professionals in their relevant disciplines.

PNAC Director General Anjum Bashir said this on Saturday while speaking at the closing ceremony of ‘Two-day Lab Assessor Course Based on ISO-15189,’ an international standard for medical labs.

He said that compliance with the requirements of ISO-15189 was prerequisite to ensure valid results. He said that medical practitioners made decisions on the basis of test results produced by the labs; therefore, these decisions played a pivotal role in the treatment of the patients. “It is in the interest of the patients, doctors, society and the government that the medical laboratories should operate at the highest standard of professionalism and technical competence. — A Reporter

Soldier killed on road

CHAKWAL, Dec 10: An armyman was killed in a road accident, police said on Friday.

Mohammad Ramzan, a resident of Mianwali posted at Mirpur, was going to his hometown on motorbike when a passenger van going to Kharian from Talagang hit him near Mulhal Mughlan town.

He died on the spot while the driver of the van managed to escape. An army major and two soldiers reached the spot. — Correspondent

19 encroachers fined

RAWALPINDI, Dec 10: Rawal Town Municipal Administration (RTMA) on Saturday imposed fine of Rs19,000 on 19 shopkeepers for encroachment and seized 10 pushcarts.

According to a spokesman, the RTMA staff visited Raja Bazaar, Jamia Masjid Road, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Saidpur Road, Liaquat Road, Asghar Mall and Commercial Market and removed encroachments along the roads and on the footpaths.

Town Officer (Regulation) Tauseef Ahmed Malik urged the shopkeepers to remove encroachments from the front of their shops voluntarily otherwise stern action would be taken against them. — A Reporter